Methods are provided for rapidly characterizing a feedstock being considered for lubricant base oil production in order to determine the viscosity index potential of the feedstock. It has unexpectedly been discovered that the DDVI value for a feedstock at a specified pour point can be predicted based on a) the feed distillate residual wax content at a temperature as determined by Differential Scanning Calorimetry, such as the feed distillate residual wax content at a temperature corresponding to the specified pour point temperature; b) the feed distillate refractive index; c) the feed distillate kinematic viscosity at a temperature, such as kinematic viscosity at 100 C.; and d) the distillate volume-averaged boiling point. Based on this unexpected correlation, the VI potential of a feedstock can be determined based on measurement of properties that can be performed on a time scale corresponding to one or a few days using a few milliliters of feedstock.

A method includes providing a length of pipeline that has a housing defining a central bore extending the length of the pipe and a space formed within the housing and extending the length of the pipe. At least one condition within the space is continuously monitored within the space to detect in real time if a change in the housing occurs.

In a method for determining the low-temperature properties of a paraffin-containing fuel, the fuel is conducted from a storage chamber through a measuring cell provided with a sieve, the measuring cell is cooled by means of a cooling device, the temperature of the fuel in the measuring cell is measured, and a fluid pressure representing the flow resistance occurring on the sieve is measured, and the temperature occurring at a defined fluid pressure set point is determined and output as a result of the method, wherein, for the pressure measurement, a defined sample amount of the fuel is abruptly delivered from the storage chamber in order to obtain a pressure pulse.

A system and a method for calculating and assigning an indicative value, such as cetane number, pour point, cloud point and aniline point, of a fraction of an oil sample based on an index calculated and assigned from ultraviolet visible spectroscopy data of the oil sample.

Methods are provided for rapidly characterizing a feedstock being considered for lubricant base oil production in order to determine the viscosity index potential of the feedstock. It has unexpectedly been discovered that the DDVI value for a feedstock at a specified pour point can be predicted based on a) the feed distillate residual wax content at a temperature as determined by Differential Scanning Calorimetry, such as the feed distillate residual wax content at a temperature corresponding to the specified pour point temperature; b) the feed distillate refractive index; c) the feed distillate kinematic viscosity at a temperature, such as kinematic viscosity at 100 C.; and d) the distillate volume-averaged boiling point. Based on this unexpected correlation, the VI potential of a feedstock can be determined based on measurement of properties that can be performed on a time scale corresponding to one or a few days using a few milliliters of feedstock.

Methods including: measuring a mid and/or near Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and/or Raman spectrum of a hydrocarbon fluid; determining an estimated cold filter plugging point (CFPP) for the hydrocarbon fluid using a vibrational spectroscopy-CFPP correlation model; and treating the hydrocarbon fluid to cause a change in the estimated CFPP. In some cases, the treating of the hydrocarbon fluid comprises: adding a flow improver to the hydrocarbon fluid.

Systems and methods are disclosed for providing virtual assays of an oil sample such as crude oil based on gel permeation chromatography (GPC) carried out on the oil sample or a solution of the oil sample in a GPC solvent, and the density of the oil sample. The virtual assay provides a full range of information about fractions of the oil sample including naphtha, gas oil, vacuum gas oil, vacuum residue, and other information about the properties of the oil sample. Using the system and method herein, the virtual assay data pertaining to these several fractions of the oil sample and the oil sample itself are obtained without fractionation of the oil sample into the several components.

A method for improved handling of a blended fuel includes obtaining a sample of the blended fuel from a storage tank; cooling the same until the sample separates into phases; and determining a risk that the fuel in the storage tank will separate based on the cooling step. An apparatus for assessing the risk of phase separation of a blended fuel includes a test cavity for holding a sample of the blended fuel from a storage tank; a heat transfer device for cooling the sample in the test cavity; and at least one sensor for indicating when the sample in the test cavity has separated into phases.

A method includes providing a length of pipeline that has a housing defining a central bore extending the length of the pipe and a space formed within the housing and extending the length of the pipe. At least one condition within the space is continuously monitored within the space to detect in real time if a change in the housing occurs.